Relubrication

Rolling bearings have to be relubricated if the service life of the grease is shorter than the expected service life of the bearing. Relubrication should always occur while the existing lubricant is still satisfactory.

The time at which the bearing should be relubricated depends on many related factors. These include:

bearing type and size

speed

operating temperature

grease type

space around the bearing

bearing environment

It is only possible to base recommendations on statistical rules. The SKF relubrication intervals are defined as the time period, at the end of which 99% of the bearings are still reliably lubricated. This represents the L1 grease life.

SKF recommends using experience based data from actual applications and tests, together with the estimated relubrication intervals provided.

For many applications, there is a temperature limit for standard greases when the bearing ring with the highest temperature exceeds an operating temperature of 100 °C (210 °F). Above this temperature, special greases should be used. In addition, the temperature limits of the bearing and adjacent machine components, such as external seals, should be taken into consideration.

For additional information about high temperature applications, contact the SKF application engineering service.